Vietnam, US forge comprehensive partnership
Washington DC (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to
the US Ha Kim Ngoc has held phone talks with US Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and
Nonproliferation, on the comprehensive partnership between the two countries
and bilateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.
During the talks on May 21, the two sides rejoiced at
the strong developments of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and
expressed their hope that the celebration of the 25th anniversary of
the two countries' diplomatic ties will mark new milestones and determination to
advance the relationship.
Ngoc thanked the US administration and Congress for
their support to Vietnam in the pandemic combat, saying recent medical cooperation activities have reflected the spirit of
effective partnership and collaboration in the hardest time.
Bera, who had work in health care for more than two
decades before becoming a congressman, lauded and congratulated the Vietnamese
Government and people on well containing the disease.
He said he wants to visit some countries in the
region, including Vietnam, after the pandemic is put under control.
One of the priorities of the Subcommittee and the
congressman is promoting multifaceted cooperation with regional countries,
covering economy-trade, national defence-security, and maritime security and
safety, Bera said.
The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea
situation and the Mekong-US cooperation.
Regarding the East Sea, Bera said he and the US
Congress are always interested in and keep a close watch on developments in
the East Sea and oppose acts that infringe upon sovereignty and run counter to
international law, causing regional disorder.
On this occasion, Ngoc and Bera discussed enhancing multifaceted
collaboration between Vietnam and California, including the implementation of a
letter of intention in this regard signed by representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and Los Angeles city in May 2019.
Ngoc called on the California side to create more
favourable conditions for Vietnamese in the state to live, work and study.
He also appealed to the US Congress and administration
to take measures to protect the Vietnamese community given the recent wave of discrimination
against Asians in the country due to COVID-19 concern./.